Voting machine ballot part



Dec. 5, 1944. D, RATHBUN 2,364,098

VOTING MACHINE BALLOT PARTS Filed NOV. 24, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l E] l @lGco/f 55227/55102 Y @IWI fida Dec. 5, 1944.

G.V D. RATHBUN VOTING MACHINE BALLOT PARTS Filed NV. 24, 1942 3Sheets-Sheet 2 ff www,

Dec. 5, 1944.

G. D. RATHBUN VOTING MACHINE BALLOT PARTS Filed Nov. 24, 1942 3Sheets-Sheet 3 @afye 522755201 Patented Dec. 5, 1944 UNITEDSTATES PATENTOFFICE VOTING MACHINE BALLOT PART George D. Rathbun, ManhattarnKans.

Application November 24, 1942, Serial No. 466,766 15 claims. (o1. =zas-5m This invention relates generally to the class ofA voting or ballotingmachines, and pertains particularly to an improved ballot part for use vin Such machine, the 'present application being a continuation in partof my pending application for patent on Voting machine, Serial No.379,524, led February 18, 1941.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an improvedballot part for use in a voting machine, which is designed to permitmore i Another object of the invention is to provide f an improvedballot part for use in a voting machine, which'is so designed andconstructed as to prevent the voter `from voting for too many candidatesfor the same office, or illegally Voting,A f

thus eectively interlocking against wrong voting and without making theweight or size of the ballot part such as to make the part inconvenientto handle, the interlocking being accomplished through the avoidance ofthe use of or:

omission of mechanism which could be used in wrong or illegalvoting.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved ballotpart for use in a voting machine, Which is so designed that the destruction of the vote may be easily and quickly accomplished before theballot part is turned over to another voter for use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved ballotpart for use in aA voting machine, which after being set by the voterand made ready for use in the voting machine for the recording of thevote, cannot easily be deciphered if an attempt is made to inspect theballot part by those who may happen to:

handle it before it is placed in the machine for the recording of thevote.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved ballot partfor use in a voting machine Wherein shiftable candidate indicators are=employed and means is provided for the carrying of a candidate o-rballot list as a part of the ballot piece, whereby the voter is enabledto accurately and quickly select the person for whom or the items yforwhichhe intends to cast his .f

vote Without having to depend upon the memorizing of such persons oritems from a list considered before entering the voting booth.

Still another object 0f the invention is to provide an improved ballotpart, for use in a voting machine, which is designed for cooperativeaction with perforating elements forming a part of the voting machine,whereby When such ballot part has had candidate indicating or selectorngers set by the voter in accordance with his voting desires, suchfingers are made to cooperate with such perforating elements in thevoting machine for the simultaneous recording by punches or perforationsin a record strip or record strips, and/or sheets of paper, all votesofthe voter.

Another object is to provide animproved ballot part for use in a votingmachine, which is constructed to establish an interlocking relation withthe registering mechanism of thev machine whereby the separation of therecord of al1 votes cast for candidates of each oice is automaticallyeffected.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it being understood, however, that the invention is not to beconsidered as limited by the specic -illustration or description butthat such illustration and description constitute a pre ferredembodiment of the invention.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a sectional view of a portion of th'evoting machine in association with which the present improved ballotport may be used, showing the ballot part in transverse section and inposition ready to be shifted for the recording of a vote. y y

Figure 2 is a view in plan of the embodiment oi the ballot partparticularly illustrated and claimed in the pending application SerialNo. 379,524, previously referred to, showing the cover open.

Figure 3 is a view in transverse section of the ballot part of Figure 2with the cover closed, the

- section of the closed ballot being substantially on Figure 6 `is asectional view of a portion ofy a voting machine of a constructionslightly modiiied from that shown in Figure 1 and showing modifiedballot: partforfsecond embodiment, rWith the cover closed, the sectionbeing taken substantially on the line 8--8 of Figure '7.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary section taken sub-f stantially on the line 9-9of Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a View in perspective Avof 1the *candidate indicator ngerused in thesecondembodiment of the ballot part shown in Figure 7.

Figure 11 is a view in perspective vo'f'l-thel oilic'e i divider used inthe second embodiment oftheV ballot part shown in Figure '7.

` Figure .f 12 1illustratesv aislight'xmodication'of the'ballot partstructure1as2shownoiriiligure 7 by means ofl 'which `straightv1partyrticket:voting may 'bef carried: out;1 while ithe'y-voterthas the:op-

tionof'voting -amixed ticketforxthe straight zbal- "lot, and forcompelling iaovoter f. torvote'according to thisy choice-for"certain"Apropositions v'or questions.

Figure-13 isav viewf in `transverse:section 0f the ballot partjshown in"Figure 12;; withsthecover closed;l they f section' beingfztaken:substantiallyl 'on Vthe line I3'-I3'ofrFigure.12;

' Figurezlfl is a-fragmentary-section: takerrzsubstantiallyon-*thev'line I 4#- I-4 fof `Figure 12.

- Figure I5 is a fragmentarysection-corresponding to Figure 14 butshowing the control'zslide of the fballot'v-part.-y setwforf'thetuvotinga.: of, :ai: mixed ticket.

' Figure; -16 vis aaviewz irreside'felevaticnrof-:azportionn of3 thecontrol" 'slide r forming. :.azoparl: otgthe rballotfpart `structure ofAFigure .112.

Figure. 17 iis af transversezsection'rofztheballot part shown in Figure12, with the coverclclosed, the 1 sectiony being taken:substantially-onf. the.; line II-"-I'Ifof Figure `12."

Figure 118- is a: fragmentaryrdetailishowing'-that f selector orAindicatorl :fingers which .isgemployed for the compulsory-votingxuponalparticularquestiony orf proposition; in raisedrspositionifor.ishiftiing.

Figure 19 is a view 'ineperspectiveofrfther compulsory voting finger orselectorlshcrwnzintFigfuret 18.

InV my-Jpending applicatiomipreyiously' referred to, there is described:and claimed a :voting-ima.

chine structure'v inv i `vwhich z r are-:zemploy'ed record receivingsheets in uwhichwthe. voting record.; is made through the medium ofshiftablepinimembersI which are; actuated .by x.certainzzflngersf'of theballot part vwhich have been'rselected :ande movedy intooperativev'position `byvtl'ie voterywhensuch ballot part is moved inafpredeterminedzmanner with respect to the perforating pins.

-In Figure v1 there` is= illustrated :Justfsoffmuch vof lsuch=-voting:machine structure asf-tosimakef understandable fthe ==mannerr in fwhich.; the ,ballot part is employed for the 1recordingQofitheballot ofa'voter.

In Figure 1 there are shown:twojrecordreceiving'V strips orsheets @I0x'whichl extend ina-spaced I relation acrossan'edger'of a-bari I I whichistprovided along such edge with a series olf-openings I2,onev only of`wh'ichlis-here shown, tor-receive punching needles Iii-,fone only ofwhich isvshown, which correspond fin number with' the openings.

These punching needles are supported at their rearward ends for slidingmovement through a bar I4 which, together with the bar Il, is carriedfor limited up and down movement by a frame I5, while at their frontends the needles are slidably supported in a plate I6. As shown, theneedle I3 is in the form of an elongated loop at its front end and inthe loop is engaged the retractor bar I'I by which the needles arepulled back away from the papers or strips I0 after a ballot has-beenrecorded` throughy the actuation of the ballot piece.

l The ballot piece is here generally designated by the referencecharacter B and is supported '-inthefvotingmachine upon suitable tracksor l guides, oneof which is shown and indicated by the numeral I8, formovement with respect to f. therneedlarunder'fthe action of a suitableshifter guponnthe. -top surfacey ofsthe,y base 20.

bar, .oneform of which bar is indicated at I9. The ballot part B is anelongated box-like unit lhaving a base orbottomv2lLl-at each .sideoffwhich isianl.upstanding-y wall-2 I :which .\.extendsi. entirelyacross; the .width of the baseiand projects slightly ybeyond.thefrea-r.l :edge .of .the abase.: Pivotally at .tached;;t0.therearwardly `.extending tends of Athe side. wallsfZIfoffthezballotpiece.,v as at .22,2 is a top or cover 23 which has extending along itsforward-.edgezthe yforward walli'orming flange 24 :whichfwhen .thev:cover is infclosed position,.as :shown1 in Figure 3, =coacts fwiththe..side ,walls 2 I and the bottom` 2D to close the :ballot part.

' Within..the :ballot .part landvextending along the rear -edgeof .thebottomthere issecured to the upper surface of the bottom ofuthe;bar.i25`which. isxprovided with. a 'plurality'of transverse l`slots.orsrecessesgZB which-1v correspond .in l number .with therrecordperforating needles-I3.:` The for- .wardor inner edge-oflthis-.bar 25.isslightly undercut, asfindicated:atJZLFigure 3, and inopposed relationwith this undercut forwardoedge of the slottedbar. 25, there issecured.to' Athe upper surface-.of .'thebottom. 20 a ilockibarf 2B whichhas. the-rear..edge,.or edgecon-fronting thebar .Y 25e-undercut, asindicated-at 29.

The numeral generally` designates; an cnice divider-unitedv whichvthereare a :number equallingthe number.A ofoflices for which: elections are`to be made, Each of these office divider units com- .prises-` anelongateddinger.portonz3l which'is of a thicknessto lit into any one ofthe,y slots 26of v the .bar .-25 `iacross. which kthe..nger islsecuredwhen the ballot part is'made up. Extending downwardly-from' the lower:edge of `.the finger .3.I: isxthe post32 with which; is. integrallyYformed the nat.plateflikeiportionfor nag 33which rests ,.Thexpost 321is:o1` less .widththan the .dagli-I3 fand fits snugly between theopposing-'edges vof .the bars '25 Aand .28,-5 the iforwa'rd .andrrearpedgesgof the .xflag 33-rengaging inthe `undercuts 2'I and*29,

. as shownz-in Figure. 3, whereby the linger portion rear :edge of zth'eballotspart bottom .2 Il ,Jas shown 3 Ir.; isf secure@ rmly in positiontransversely' of the'bar: .2 5i fand '.in :engagement in a slot. '2 8.

' .The outercr rearfendof thenger 3I'zcarries the :headl34' which, islocatedslightly beyond the in Figure 3, so that, asis,` shown in Figure1, it

amayrengage the 'near end of afneedle I3 when the '.ballot part isplaced in position inthe voting machine and moved-rearwardly toward the`needles. z

' EachA of the-ofce'divider units hask anopenng 35-formed'transverselythrough'the ringer, preferably .upon the vertical`center of the posti/32,

andxthese openings of the several 'cnice deviders are aligned to receivethe pivot bar 36 which is introduced through a suitable opening 31 inone side wall 2 I to lie within the ballot part beneath the plane of thetop edges of the walls 2I. y The numeral 38 designates the candidateindicator linger of which there are a. number equal to the number of theaspirants to the various offices designated upon the ballot. Each ofthese candidate indicator fingers has an opening 39 through one end ofwhich the pivot rod 36 passes, while at its other end it has a head 40corresponding with the head 34 of the office divider unit, forengagement with a record sheet perforating needle. The fingers 38 are ofa thickness to snugly engage in a groove 26 of the bar 25 when thengeris thrown over into candidate indicating or voting position. Whennot in such -position the finger is extended forwardly, lying across thelock bar 28. In either of these positions the top edges of the fingersand of the oiiice divider unit fingers are in a common plane and may beengaged by the inner face or inner covering plate of the cover 23 whenthe latter is in closed position, to be held in candidate indicating ornon-indicating position by the cover.

The ballot list comprises an integral part of the ballot part and thislist is secured upon the inner side or face of the cover 23, asindicated at 4I, and may be covered by a suitable transparent shield orcovering 42, as shown in Figure ,3;

As will be readily apparent upon reference to AFigure 2, after theballot list has been secured in position against the inner side of thecover 23, the oiice divider units are adjusted lengthwise of the ballotpart so that each will designate an z oflice, and they are then firmlysecured in place by the lock bar 28. Between each two ofice Adi- 'viderunits will be a number of the slots or grooves 26 of the bar 25, whichare evenly spaced and there is one of these grooves corresponding withthe name of each candidate for the oflice named opposite the upperoffice divider. There will be pivotally attached to the rod 36, betweentwo adjacent office divider units 3B, one or more candidate indicators3B. If the oiice is onefor which only one candidate is to be elected,then only one candidate indicator 38 will be inserted between theadjacent office dividers, but if more than one candidate is to beelected for the oice designated opposite the upper oflice divider, thenthe number of candidate indicators 38 to be inserted will equal thenumber of candidates to be elected tothe office named.

It will be observed that with this arrangement a voter will be limitedto voting for the proper number of candidates for the pince. He cannotvote for more candidates than he is entitled to vote for because thereis no means available for `him to vote wrongly. The candidate indicatorscannot be slid past the oflice dividers on the pivot rod 36, to anothergroup of candidates. `This provides an interlocking system by omissionto prevent wrong voting.

When the voter arranges the candidate Vindicator ngers 38 across the bar25 to designate his choice for the particular oilice indicated',- thecover 23 is closed, as shown in Figure 3, and when in such position itholds the fingers securely in position. The headed ends of the indicator-fngers 38 yand of the oilice divider units 30 'project slightly beyondthe rear edge of thegballot part, as shown in Figure l, and when theballot part is then placed in position in the voting machine and movedrearwardly toward the punching needles I3 the candidate indicatorfingers will each force a needle rearwardly and through the recordingsheets and each of the oiiice divider units will engage and force aneedle rearwardly through the sheet. Thus each time a ballot is recordedthe oce divider units will actuate the punching pins or needles I3, as aresult of which the record sheet when removed from the machine will haveparallel rows of punches therein dividing the records of votes made forthe candidates of the different offices.

In addition to forming parallel rows of punches or holes in the recordsheet whereby to set forth on the sheet the different office groups, theoffice dividers also function to effect even advancement of the recordsheet under all circumstances. If reliance were placed solely upon thecandidate indicators or the pins actuated thereby, for effectingadvancement of the sheet or, in other words, if the ollice dividers werenot employed, the record sheet might not be evenly advanced. A votermight vote a straight ticket, in the manner hereinafter set forth, orvote for only one or two candidates and thus the record sheet might beengaged by punch pins only adjacent one side of the sheet and, as aresult, only the engaged side of the sheet would be advanced while theother side would drag or would not be positively pulled down. Since theoffice di viders function throughout the length of the ballot part topush the punch pins into the record sheet at points adjacent both sidesof the sheet and at intermediate points, the record sheet will always beengaged entirely `across its width by the ofdce divider actuated pins,and thus an even and regular advancement of the record sheet will beobtained at all -times since, as previously explained, and as set forthin my prior application hereinbefore referred to, the punch pins aremoved down while still in engagement with the record sheet so as toeffect the desired advance movement of the sheet one step.

In addition to the foregoing the office divider fingers at all timespoint to the names of the oiiices of the different groups on the ballotthereby making it particularly easy for the voter to read the ballot andto see at once what oilices the different candidates are running for.

In Figure 6 the illustrated portion of the Voting machine is alteredslightly from the machine shown in Figure 1 and the second embodiment ofthe ballot part, illustrated in Figures 6 to l1 inclusive, is, ofcourse, designed particularly to coact with this modied machinestructure.

In the machine structure shown in Figure 6, the sheet perforating pin orneedle is generally designated I3 and extends farther toward the frontof the machine, carrying intermediate its ends the parallel portion 43which is slidablyv engaged in an aperture in the plate I6', whileadjacent its forward end or that end which is engaged by the candidateselector ngers of the ballot part, is an upstanding stud 44 which, uponeach operative or rearward movement of the needle, engages and actuates-a Wheel 45, of a counter unit which is indicated generally by thenumeral 46.

One principal feature distinguishing the modified ballot part, indicatedgenerally by the reference character B', from the ballot part B. is inthe disposition of the candidate indicator fingers and the fingers ofthe office dividers, flush with the rear edge of the bottom of theballot part instead of projecting beyond such edge like the iingers ofthe ballot part shown in Figure 2.

In this modified or second embodiment of the ballotapart: :Bv 'there'.is .thef baseY "Orr bottom 41 in; whichzthe topfsurfacefis formed alongthe rear edge-to provide: the bar 48 :across-the. top of which. areformed the.l channels or grooves :49. In'ispaced relation with the inner.edge of the bar 48 is formed .the shoulder 5llwhich extends lengthwiseof .the zbottom and Ythroughout the major portionof its length isprovided withV the notches l: corresponding. in number with thegroovesz49 and eachaligned :transversely of the bottom :witha groove.

Across each side of the bottom 41 is `the-upstanding side wall52V which.merges with the forward wall 53 which runs lengthwise oi the bottom andthus forming a box-like unitthe top of which isclosed-bya cover 54 whichishingedly attached, asat 55;.to the bar 48,v while thelOngitudinaledgeopposite .the'hinges :55 carries 'the-flange `56 which, .when the-coveris closed, is located'inside- .the reary edgewall 53, as shownzinFigure 8.

z The numeral 5'! generally-designates the .oihce divider unitWiliam-:like the-unit fcomprises a iinger 58;, a postz59. extendingdownwardly from the nger adjacent its-inner'end, and a plate 60 oragwith which the post is integrally connected. Thev lflag in thisparticular unit is relatively long and is yrlat and pointed at the endremotefrom the post59, as indicated-6|. The flags ilare of a lengthtofit snugly betweenth'e notched edge of. the shoulder' 59 and theadjacent edge of the bar '48,:asshown in Figures '1. and 8, with athepointllv engaginglin oneof the notches 5l and the'finger, engaging inagroove 49. As shown, the flngerspforwardly of the'post59, aresubstantially triangular and have one edge directed downwardlyto-engage` in'the -V-shaped. channel Orgroove 49, and the length of thefinger-58 is such thatits'free end will be flush with the rear edge of.the 4bar 48, as shown in Figure 8, and is cut ysquare yacross to form .acontact .face for engaging the adjacent end of a punchneedle or pin i3.

Like the units-39,. the-units 51 are placed to indicate the differentoiiices .which are to be lled; and after the unitshave been properlylocated there is extended through aligned openings 62, formedpreferablythroughy .'thepostsw59, a pivot rod 63 which is inserted throughanopening'64 in one sidewall 52,. as shown in Figure 7. The units 51 aremaintained against unauthorized displacement. by a plate 64 which vrestsupon the. topof ythe shouldered-portion 50 and upon the tops of thewings 69, as shown in Figure 8, and is secured to the bottom.41by bolts65 or other suitable securing means.

Pivotally supported upon the pivot rod .63 and disposed in the spacesbetweenpairs of the `oice indicators 51 are-the candidate-indicators,each ofwhich comprises afingert. 'I'he inner or attached..end of the.linger 66 is preferably rectangular. in cross-section andhasanopening-61 through .which the pivot rod 63 extends, While the cuter.half of thenger .66 is of. triangular cross-section,.presenting a singlelower edgefor engagement inv a V-.shapedgroove 49 and a hat top forengagement by the cover 54 when the latter is closed.r lThe free end ofthe nger 69. is cut square acrosslike the finger 58 and is of the samelengthas the iinger 58 so that it will terminate in the plane of therear .edge of the bar 48.

As is clearly shown in Figures 7 and 8, the ballot Sheet. is secured tothe inner face of the cover 54to form apart 0i the ballot part and iscovered by asuitable transparent plate which protects the-.ballot sheetand which rests upon .the tops i ageligoee or the once divider ngers andcandidate indicator lingers when the'same are in a 'positionparallelwith the plane of the bottom 41. When the candidate indicatorngers arein the grooves 49 they will ybe held against displacement by the cover,and when they are ythrown back into nonvoting position, with the loweredges directed upwardly they will likewise be maintained againstmovement when the cover is closed.

vIt; will be readily apparent upon reference vto Figure 8, that when theballot part is moved rearwardly toward the sheet perforating needles,the adjacent ends of the needles. will enter those grooves 49 which arenot occupied by ngers of 'either of the units and, consequently, suchneedles will not be forced forwardly to perfcrate the sheets.` Thosegrooves which have candidate indicator iingers disposedtheren or havethe fngers of the oice dividers therein will, of course, be blockedagainst the entrance of a needle and, consequently, the needle will beengaged by a finger and forced rearwardly to perforate the record sheet.At the same time that the. engaged needle is moved rearwardlyto.perforate a record sheet, the stud 44 of the needle will actuate thecounter 'mechanism 45 to register the number of the votes cast for theparticular candidatev whose name appears upon the ballotsheet in linewith the shifted needle.

The ballot part illustrated in Figures 6 t0 .11 inclusive is modied asillustrated in Figures 12 tov 19 for permittingeither straight voting orirregular voting as desired. In this modification, the grooved bar heredesignated 48 is provided with a longitudinal channel 68 in which isslidably mounted the bar 69, the top edge of which has the V-notches 10out therein, as illustrated most clearly in Figure 16. By suitablyarranging these notches 10 in the bar 69, when the -bar is shiftedtoward the bottom end ofthe ballot part, certain of the grooves in thebar 48' at the head end of the ballot'part will be partitioned, asindicated at 1| in Figure 15, and the other grooves of the bar 48 willbeunobstructed so that the candidate selector lingers 66 can be thrownover to indicate the voters selections for the different oflices setforth upon the ballot.

If a straight ticket is to be voted, thenr the notched bar 69 is shiftedtoward the head end of the ballot part and the several notches at theupper or head end of the bar 69 will. shift into registration with theadjacent grooves 49', as shown in Figure 14, adjacent whichare'indicated upon the ballot list names ofthe diierent parties, asshown in Figure 12, while all of the other grooves 49 opposite the namesof various persons running for oilices in the two parties noted, will beblocked 01T, as indicated at 12 in `Figure 14. rI'his will prevent thevoter from placing indicator fingers in voting positions in thesevgrooves and he will thus be permitted only to place an'indicatingfinger in one of the grooves beside which a party name appears.

In order to prevent the obstructing portions of the bar`69 lying betweenthe notcheslll from.' engaging the record' sheet perforating pinsy orneedles I3', such portions may be apertured, as indicated at 13, so thatthe ends of the perforating pins or needles will pass through thebai-i159.

The head end of the bar 69 is here` shown'as having a laterallyextending pin 14 secured therein and moving in a recess'15 formedthrough the inner side of the bar 48', by which pin the v'bar 69 may beconveniently shifted.k Any suitalolrx means may be provided for securingthe bar in either of its two operative positions.

Thus, it will be seen from the foregoing that the shiftable bar 69 hasin effect two sets of notches 10, the set of two or three notches at thehead end of the bar being arranged so as to register with the adjacentgrooves 49 when a straight ballot is to be cast, at which time thenotches of the other set would block the other grooves and, when the baris shifted in the opposite direction, the notches at the headv end ofthe bar or upper` set would be in position to block the grooves forstraight ballot voting against the entrance of the indicator fingerstherein while the notches of the other or lower group would be inregister with the adjacent grooves so .as to permit the fingers to beplaced therein for mixed voting.

In addition to the foregoing, provision is made for compelling a votertovote one way or the other upon some particular question or proposition.This consists in providing a special indicator finger I6 having a tailpiece 1l which only `permits the oscillation of the finger to asufficient degree to facilitate shifting the finger on the pivot bar 63.Consequently, the voter cannot throw this compulsory voting finger backto inoperative position but must place it in one or the other of certainones of the grooves 49 to vote for or against a certain propositionorquestion.

' It will, of course, be readily apparent from a comparison of thestructures shown in Figures 7 and 12 that all other features of theballot part are the same in the two structures as, for example, theinner face of the ycover 54 has the ballot list secured thereto, asindicated at 4|', which is covered by a transparent plate 42. The officeindicator unit 51' and the candidate indicators 66 are of the sameconstruction as 'divider fingers and those candidate indicator ngerswhich are swung o-ver into voting position, all disposed with theirouter ends in a comm-on plane extending from one side of the ballotpiece to the other, and projecting beyond the rear edge thereof.However, the cover 23, when in vclosed position, overlies the extendedends of the fingers and thus prevents anyone from determining how thevoter is voting. In the structures shown in Figures '7 and 12 the outerends of the office divider fingers and of the candidate indicatorfingers also lie in a common plane and in the plane of the rear edge ofthe bar 48, as shown in Figure 8. With this embodiment the ends of thepunch needles I3 are engaged by the ends of the fingers 'which aredisposed in the grooves of the bars 48 or 48 so that when the ballotpart is moved rearwardly in the machine these needles will be forcedthrough the record receiving paper or tape. Where the fingers of thecandidate indicators have noty been swung over into voting position theadjacent ends of the needles will merely enter the channelsy and willnot be actuated.

It will be readily seen that there is an inter- 4 `locking coactionbetween the ballot part and the designating the different oflices and ofseparating one office from the other and maintaining the indicatorfingers which are to be employed for voting for candidates forparticular ofces in separated relation, and at the same time the ofiiceindicator units or fingers each effects the movement of a record sheetpunching pin each time that the ballot piece is put into the machineandl pushed forwardly for the registering of a vote or the recording ofa ballot. Consequently, the office diivders function to create acontinuous line of perforations in the record sheet between the groupsof votes recorded for the different candidates.

After the ballot part has been placed in the voting machine and the voteor ballot recorded, the ballot can be readily destroyed by the attendantwho picks up the ballot part by the cover so that the base or bottomportion will swing down or fall away, thus allowing the candidateindicator fingers to swing out of position across the grooved bar. Inthis way, the fingers will be thrown back and no one will be able todetermine by then examining the part what persons were voted for and thefingers will be ready for reuse by the next voter.

To permit cumulative voting, that is, voting where a voter has a certainnumber of votes and is permitted to cast them for one candiate or dividethem among the candidates, no modification of the ballot part primarilymay be needed, but in preparing the ballot list and the ballot partprevious to an election, the following arrangements or perforations willhave to be made.

Suppose there are three to be elected and four candidates for thepositions. On the ballot list each of the four candidates would have hisname printed three times, all under the one title for the office. Thus,the interlock would include twelve names, that is, four names eachrepeated three times. Three candidate indicators or indicator fingerswould be placed within the interlock or the space between the adjacentpair of office dividers. The voter may then place these indicators atany places according to his notion, thus voting all three for the sameperson or one for each, o-r otherwise dividing the votes as he wishes.

To permit fractional voting no fundamental change in the ballot part isneeded.- The arrangement of the ballot list and the location of theoffice dividers would accomplish the results by using a littlearithmetic. Assuming the fractional value of a vote to be one-third andthere are four candidates as in lthe previous illustration. Onecandidate to be elected. Use the same set-up as illustrated above. Thevoter would be using a third of a. vote for each person to whom hepointed an indicator.

I claim,

1. A ballot part for use in a voting machine employing a series ofshiftable marking elements, comprising a body adapted to be shiftablysupported in the machine for the advancement and retraction of one edgerelative to said marking elements, a series of fixed office dividerfingers secured to the body in spaced parallel relation and extendingperpendicular to said edge, each nger having an end adjacent to the edgeand said ends being in a line paralleling said edge for contact withmarking elements, and a candidate indicator iinger shiftably supportedbetween each two adjacent o-iiice dividers to be moved between thedividers to a selected candidate designating position, said indicatorfinger when in a selected V ballot list, each of said, divider fingersbeing disposed lperpendicular with respect to said body edge and havingan end in a line common to the ends -of .the other fingers andlparalleling said edge, and a candidateindicator finger attached at oneend to the body betweenf each two adjacent oflicedividers for movementalong a path paralleling said edge to a selected candidate. indicatingposition, .and means for` maintaining each candidateindicator finger inindicating position with one end in the line of. the

.ends Aofthe divider iingers.

3. .A ballot part as setforth in claim 2l, in which said means comprisesa transversely notched bar carried bythe body parallel with andAadjacent tosaidv edge, vin the notches of whichbar the oiiice dividerngers. and the candidate indicator fingers. are` engaged.

4. A ballotpartasiset forth in claim 2, including-a movable coverpivotally attached to the-body andadapted to have a closed positionsuperposed.; with respect to-.the body and fingers carried Athereonandan 'open .position in which itiisdisposed at-one side of said edgewththe ballot list carriedthereby having the oiiice titles alignedtransverselyof said edgev with theoiiice divider ngers.

5. A ballot part for'use ina Noting machine ,employinga series .of`shiftable marking elements,

comprising a fiat body adapted to be moved on the machine for.thefadvancement and retrac- .tion of one edge relative to said markingelements, a. transversely groovedbarsecured tothe g body adjacent to andparallel with said edge, means.for..-attaching a ballot. list. to thebody in position for listing oflice titles and candidate namesparallel;withsaid bar, each -oiiice title and. .candidate name. being `alignedAtransversely of fthe'bar with agroove thereof, a series. of` officedividerngers. secured ,to thebody and,l each extending transverselyofthe; barand, lying in a vgroove and terminating at. oneendadjacenttosaid edge, eachiinger being alignedwith, anf

office. title, .and candidate. indicator. fingers Aeach pivotallyattached at one.. end, .tov .the lbody. be.- tween twoadjacent.oiiice..dividers for movement longitudinally of thebanforfselective .engagement in grooves of the bar lying betweenthe pairof. dividers and forswinging. movement in a planeextendingtransverselylofthe bar whereby the` candidate indicator fingers may beAdisposed to point ..across..the barin thesame direction as the .dividerfingers. .or .in .theoppositev direction.

6. .A ballot partas set forth invclaim 5, in-which the .ballot list`carryingmeans. comprises a `cover pivotally attached totheybodyvand-havingfa closed position. inl which. the ;ballot list carriedthereby is faced down inwopposed relation. with -the lingers and.. inwhich.I the fsaid` iingers` are Ymaintained againstmovement bythecover;-

'7. A1ballot part as set forth in claim'5,includ ingWshif-tableI meanslcooperating'with said .grooved bar for selectively-blocking-certainY ofthe groovesfof the barA againsttthe placement of candidateindicatoivflngers therein.

8. A ballot part as set-forth in--claim5, with means for controllingtheidispositioniof the can'- didate indicator ngersinthe groovesof saidbar for eiectingcompulsory voting ofr a straight ballot or a mixedballot.

9.`A ballot part for use in a, voting machine employing a series ofshiftable marking elements, comprising an elongated flat body adaptedtobe shiftably supported infthe machine for movement to effect advancementandretraction of one longitudinal edge relative to'said markingelements, a bar extending along said one edge and having a plurality ofgrooves formed transversely ofthe top surface -thereof,a ballot listsupported by the body and secured in a position tohave the oiiice titlesand names of candidates arranged in a column extending lengthwise ofsaid grooved bar with said officev titles and candidate names each beingaligned transversely of the bar .with .a groove, a plurality ofofiicedividers each including an elongated fingerand aiiat platevconnected with one end of the nger, each ,of said divider -fingersbeing disposed in a groove in alignment with an office title and havingthe plate positioned upon the body, a rod extending longitudinally ofthe body and passingr throughthe ofIice dividers, detachable meanssecuredv to the body and overlying said plates to maintain the same infixed position, and a plurality of candidate indicator fingers eachpivotally and slidably mounted upon said rod between two adjacent oflicedividers and adaptedfor adjustment longitudinally of the rod forselective engagement in grooves opposite candidate names and swingableonthe rod for movement into or vout of connection with the grooved bar,said office divider fingers and said candidate indicator fingers whendisposed in gro-oves of the bar having ends arranged in a lineparalleling said edge of the body for engagement with the shiftablemarking elements ofthe machine.

10. A ballot part as set forth in claim 9, with an adjustable meansassociated with said grooved bar for blocking out certain of. the'grooves thereof against the reception of adjacent candidate indicatorfingers.

11. A ballot part as set OrthincIaim 9, in which said grooved bar has achannel extending longitudinally thereintransversely of the grooves, anda shiftable bar disposed in said channel for limited longitudinalmovement and` having an edge provided with notches segregated into .twogroups and arranged whereby ythenotches. of lone group will registerwithcertain ofthe grooves when the 'bar is in ,one position to position theportions of the shiftable bar between the notches of the other group ina position to'.block adjacent groovesV against the dispositionuofindicator. iingers therein.

l2. A ballo-t element of the character stated comprising a flat bodyportion, means forming a pivot bar mountedupon -said body portion toextend across one-side face thereof,.a plurality of fingers pivotallymounted upon said' bar to ,be moved into either of two positionsextending perpendicularly to the bar andv in parallel relation with theside face of the body,rmeans upon one side of the bar for holdingcertain of the fingers against movement longitudinally of the bar,othersof said ngers beingxed to extend across saidmeans toprovide fixedlspaces in which ycertain of the movable "ngers are'disposed, theifingerswhen in engagementwith the said holding means being extended fbeyond theadjacent edge of the body member, and a cover pivotally attached to thebody member and adapted to be positioned over the face adjacent whichthe iingers are located to maintain said fingers against movement.

13. A ballot; element as set forth in claim 12, in which said cover isof a width to extend over the said edge of the body member, when thecovei` is in closed position, to completely cover the iingeIS.

14. A ballot part for use in a voting machine employing a series ofshiftable marking elements, comprising a. body adapted to be supportedin the machine for movement relative to the elements for the actuationof the latter, a ballot list carried by said ballot part and dividedinto oflice groups each group including an office title and candidatesfor the office, a plurality of office dividers carried by the iballotpart and each iixed opposite an office title, each office divider beingarranged to engage and actuate a marking element upon movement of thebody relative to the elements, a plurality of candidate indicators, eachadjacent pair of oflice dividers having one or more indicatorsl disposedtherebetween, means supporting the candidate indicators for slidingmovement between the adjacent pair of dividers and for pivoted movementbetween operative and inoperative positions, said office dividers beingset to limit the movement of the candidate indicators to positionsopposite the names of candidates for each oiiice group, each officegroup being provided with the in spaced relation and in a, row extendinglength- Wise of the ballot list and each designating an oiiice of thelist, each of said office dividers being arranged to engage and actuatea marking element upon each advancement of thebody relative to theelements, and a plurality of candidate indicators supported in the rowwith the oce dividers'for pivoted movement between an operative and aninoperative position, said candidate indicators further being movablelengthwise of said row and being limited in such lengthwise movement bythe oiiice dividers between which they are located, the movement of thecandidate indicators along said row being for the purpose of positioningeach indicator opposite a candidate name upon the ballot list, saidcandidate indicators when in operative position being adapted forengagement with a marking element upon advancement of the ballot partbody toward said elements.

GEORGE D. RATHBUN.

